From aerospace to F1 racing: U of T grad leans into internships to land engineering job

Aarabhi Krishnakumar, who studied mechanical engineering, took an extra year off to complete an internship with BWT Alpine Formula One Team in Oxford, England. Photo by Jason Bridge, Transmission Build Leader, Alpine.

Aarabhi Krishnakumar figured she was done with internships when she entered her fourth year of undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto – but then the opportunity of a lifetime came along. 

She had already completed two internships during a gap year that counted towards the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s professional experience year (PEY) co-op program.

She had been looking forward to focusing on her coursework and graduating with her degree in mechanical engineering. 

But opportunity knocked again when Krishnakumar landed an interview with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team, based in Oxford, England.

“I did the first interview, and it went really well, but then they told me the job would be for a year,” she says. “I didn’t know about taking another whole year off from school and I went back and forth quite a bit before accepting the position.

“At the end of the day, I realized I came to U of T to get experience, exposure and be part of cool builds.” 

Krishnakumar’s previous internship experience included stints at Bombardier Aerospace, where she worked as an operations strategy intern on manufacturing processes for private jets, and at Lockheed Martin, where she contributed to the design of Canada’s naval ships (she had also landed a few summer gigs, including as a process engineering intern at Canada Post, where she helped to streamline mail-sorting systems).

New adventures across the pond

In August 2024, Krishnakumar packed her bags and headed to Oxford – the first time she had travelled outside of North America. 

“It was such a shock and it was a bit difficult adjusting at the beginning,” she says. “But I eventually got used to it. I ended up really loving it.” 

As a build and test intern at BWT Alpine, Krishnakumar acted as a liaison between the technicians in the design and build teams, helping to improve the drawings as well as the overall build. 

“It was interesting because I got to see both the design and the technical perspectives and that’s what I really loved about it,” she says. 

“Plus, F1 is super cool. So, I got to learn a lot and see several neat gadgets and parts.”  

In addition to her work, Krishnakumar attended several events with her team. She went to the Silverstone Circuit in England for the British Grand Prix, as well as the car’s initial track test. Krishnakumar was also one of five members from Alpine to mark F1’s 75th anniversary at an event hosted by then U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

Krishnakumar credits her many work experiences with giving her a better sense of her interests and career path.  

“Design is a big portion of mechanical engineering and I tried to make that my interest as well. But personally, I just don’t enjoy sitting in front of the computer all day,” she says. 

“I’m quite a social person. I love talking and working with people and seeing things. I realized, through my work, I really want to go into manufacturing. I’d like to be on the floor and working with parts.”  

Making a meaningful impact

Despite her hectic schedule, Krishnakumar was still able to fit several extracurriculars and social activities into her undergrad. She was elected to the Engineering Society, where she worked with faculty to support students through the academic and social challenges of COVID-19 and helped organize the Iron Ring Ceremony.

Krishnakumar was also involved with Engineers Without Borders, serving as events director for the Indigenous reconciliation portfolio, where she organized initiatives to raise awareness and raise funds. And she was a member of U of T’s Formula Racing team, which sparked her interest in motorsport. 

As she finished up her final courses over the past year, Krishnakumar fit in one more part-time internship – this time with the Canadian Space Agency. That role, along with her time at BWT Alpine, helped her land a job as a process engineer with Tesla Toronto. 

“I think my internships definitely helped set me apart,” says Krishnakumar. “My boss actually told me the reason he was intrigued about my application was because of my F1 experience, because he’s also an F1 fan.” 

Before she started her new position in late May, Krishnakumar booked some well-deserved time off to travel with her mom to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.  

“I’m excited to work in the automotive industry, especially at a company focused on supporting the transition to sustainable energy,” she says. “I hope to apply what I’ve learned from my degree to make a meaningful impact on the world.”

Originally published by U of T News